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urbandreamer
03-21-2010, 06:26 PM
A Horse and Buggy tour of the County

(Well, not really by horse and buggy. But it's probably a better idea to take it in slowly.:)) Taken by me May 2009.

1) Before starting on the road trip, I had to pick up some essential literature in Elmira:
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9787/dsc00778f.jpg

2)Another essential part of the trip: healthy food--on the way to Floradale, Ontario
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9823/dsc00812zn.jpg

3)The county clearly hires better architects than the city:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5968/dsc00816h.jpg

4)My top secret make out space exposed:
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1246/dsc00878z.jpg

5)Floradale Park is a secret, fantastic place to spend the afternoon....or even take a pee break!
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/309/dsc00917q.jpg

6)You gotta be part of the "cult" to know how to get to the park:
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/7607/dsc00931xq.jpg

7)"Downtown Floradale" tempts me with great historic architecture...
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9155/dsc00936g.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3889/dsc01004f.jpg

8)....and fantastic tea rings and pies here:
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8463/dsc00944lv.jpg

9)For some, Wal-Mart is where you buy your day-to-day essentials and made-in-China crap, for others, there's Floradale General Store! You can get books, groceries, dried goods, fabrics, shoes, hats, winter jackets, children's toys, flowers and most importantly, damned good baked goods here!
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3129/dsc00952mc.jpg

10)http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3488/dsc00982i.jpg

11)The oh-so-chic "Davey Martin" winter jacket (and hat):
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9518/dsc00974k.jpg

12)A Spring 2010 must-have print? Yeah, 'cuz nothing runs like a Deere in Spring! :p
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/277/dsc00993b.jpg

13)I loved the pink table cloth so much I bought a piece for my big-city apartment!
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/5181/dsc00964c.jpg

14)My taxi driver was gracious and environmentally friendly:
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3548/dsc00968.jpg

15)I hadn't been to Floradale in 15 years, so was impressed to see a brand new "For English People" indie coffee shop had just opened...but I didn't go inside that day.
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6223/dsc01006.jpg

16)Heading north, I stopped to admire the local architecture:
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4158/dsc01041j.jpg
I think Peter Clewes' would approve!

17)One version of paradise:
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4289/dsc01072kr.jpg
"I'd rather live here than in a condo in Uptown Waterloo"

18)Oh how I love these Waterloo County schools!
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8382/dsc01086b.jpg

19)Such a peaceful resting place....
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/4084/dsc01096r.jpg

20)On the way to Linwood Ontario: Gorgeous!
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/716/dsc01104r.jpg

21)Is it Uptown Linwood and Downtown Floradale? :p
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/1526/dsc01130u.jpg

22)Since an "English" couple took over management of the old Zehr's Country Store in Linwood, I've noticed the quality of the local fashion selection has gone down the tubes. These hats were from China--that's disgusting! Not the real thing (still available at Brown's in Elmira btw.)
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6426/dsc01132d.jpg

23)No matter where you live, the kids have got to get home from school! Just outside Millbank, Ontario:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7934/dsc01153j.jpg

24)911 conspiracies are alive and well in Millbank Ontario--good to know! :D
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2120/dsc01173p.jpg

25)Okay, the real reason for my trip, was to enjoy a childhood treat--Anna Mae's donuts! I've already eaten too many here.:D
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9404/dsc01189picnik.jpg

26)But you know, I swear they tasted better in the 1980's when they were sold out of Anna's original home here:
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/396/dsc01222picnik.jpg
In Ontario donut wars, I'm afraid it's now Zehr's (as in Loblaws)-1, Anna Mae's-0. :(

27)Another cute little school house. Imagine going to school here!
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2876/dsc01234x.jpg

28)Now y'all probably know Millbank is known for its amazing cheese and Wellesley Apple Butter, but did you know the real amazing local food is the farmer's sausage, sold here?
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/5325/dsc01303n.jpg

29)On my way back to the 'loo, I had to stop at my buddy Jim Basillie's place...but you need a ferry to get there!
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2940/dsc01820j.jpg

Needless to say, my horses were too frightened.... Thankfully my iphone saved the day....

UrbanWaterloo
03-21-2010, 11:05 PM
Thanks for the township tour! Growing up I had one set of grandparents near Uptown and one in Woolwich. Despite some of the amazing benefits of the latter's location: all-night pool parties, having 50 people over with no noise complaints, backyard campfires, playing hide and seek in the corn fields; I actually preferred the former's Uptown location. To each his own though.

I've never had an Anna Mae's donut. I take it you'll be bringing some for our Spring/Summer WW Meet? :p (On a related note I expect uptownfoodcritic to bring some goodies as well.)

urbandreamer
05-09-2011, 11:38 PM
Today--9 May 2011--had another wonderful waterloo county journey, including a stop in Wallenstein to pick up some of those incredibly tasty-but-not-so-good-for-you "Long Johns"--their deep-fried version of Yatton Home Baking's cream buns (sold out today sadly.) Oh boy, so tasty!

On the way to Wallenstein, just north of St Clements, I came across what was to become a theme for the day--farmer's furiously tilling their fields using whatever technology they had at hand, playing catch up after all the April rain... Enjoy today's ruraldreamer:

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Photos/urbandreamer/074ru.jpg

More photos soon...I hope.